In Action...Half-Tracks

The half-track was conceived to combine the best mobility features of conventional trucks as well as track-laying vehicles. Unfortunately, like most compromises, with the good also came the bad. This M3A1 has become hopelessly mired in the Aleutians, ultimately requiring an artillery tractor to extricate it from this bog.

The rubber band-type tracks used on American half-tracks were much quieter, and much smoother running, than the link-type tracks used on German half-tracks. This allowed the US half-tracks to operate at sustained road speeds comparable to wheeled vehicles without requiring an inordinate amount of maintenance.

This M2 is serving as a command vehicle during desert maneuvers. The early wartime planning envisioned widespread use of half-track vehicles for a variety of purposes, but ultimately half-track production ceased even before the war ended, as it was found to be less than ideal in protection, capacity and maneuverability.

Half-tracks were widely used during the Italian campaign. At least six First Armored Division half-tracks are visible in this photo taken in Northern Italy. With very few exceptions, U.S. forces used half-tracks produced by White, Autocar and Diamond T, while those built by International Harvester were supplied to allied nations.

With advent of the M2A1 and M3A1, the M49 ring mount replaced the skate rail as a mounting for the heavy machine gun. These soldiers, photographed in England, are making final checks in preparation of the Normandy invasion. A snorkel has been added to the air intake of their half-track.

This M2 is being backed onto an LST in preparation of the invasion of Sicily. The LST shown at center, LST-158, would be sunk during the invasion operations. Notice the camouflage applied to the half-track.

Some of the most successful uses of the half-track were as platforms for antiaircraft artillery. One of these is the M15 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage shown here, which was armed with a 37mm M1A2 gun and two .50 caliber machine guns. This example was photographed near Salerno.

The M13 shown here, and the IH-built equivalent, the M14, were armed with two M2 .50 caliber machine guns in a power-operated turret. A gasoline-engine driven generator in the turret supplied the current.

The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage was arguably the best of the anti-aircraft half-tracks. Armed with four .50 caliber machine guns in a power-operated turret, the vehicle was so successful that similarly-armed versions were converted from M3A1 half-tracks for use during the Korean War.

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The US Marine Corps made considerable use of the half-track, in the form of the M3 Gun Motor Carriage, in the Pacific. The 75mm M1897A4 cannon mounted on these vehicles were employed knocking out enemy pill boxes and machine gun nests, as in this photo.

Far removed from the Pacific beaches, this snow-covered M15A1 belonged to the 778TH AAA Battalion, 3rd Armored Division. The M15A1 differed from the M15 in part by having the 37mm cannon mounted above the .50 caliber machine guns, rather than vice-versa. The machine was photographed near Bastogne on January 19, 1945.

Also captured on film in January of 1945, this M2A1 wearing winter camouflage was operating in Belgium. The armored shutters were closed--not only to protect the radiator from bullets--but to keep the engine in its normal operating temperature.

In a very different climate, most of this M2 crew rests in a shelter made from palm leaves as another crewman listens to the radio headset. The crew has also liberated a large drum magazine for "Ma Deuce."

This 41st Armored Infantry, 2nd Armored Division half-track has been considerably up-gunned. The 37mm antitank guns and shields were removed from obsolete Dodge M6 Gun Motor Carriages and installed in M2 half-tracks. External rear stowage was added at the same time.

The crew of this M2A1 stands watch as a flight of P47 Thunderbolts pass over their base. Three thirty-caliber weapons, covered, supplement the fifty-caliber weapon, the only one uncovered.

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Half-track Halftrack Korean War Military Vehicles

David DoyleAuthor

David Doyle's earliest published works were occasional articles in enthusiast publications aimed at the historic military vehicle restoration hobby. This was a natural outlet for a guy whose collection includes several Vietnam-era vehicles such as M62, M123A1C, M35A2, M36A2C, M292A2, M756, and an M764.

By 1999, his writing efforts grew to include regular features in leading periodicals devoted to the hobby both domestically and internationally, appearing regularly in US, English and Polish publications.

In 2003, David received his a commission to write his first book, The Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Since then, several outlets have published more than 100 of his works. While most of these concern historic military hardware, including aircraft and warships, his volumes on military vehicles, meticulously researched by David and his wife Denise, remain the genre for which he is most recognized. This recognition earned life-time achievement in June 2015, when he was presented Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) bestowed on him the coveted Bart Vanderveen Award in recognition of “...the individual who has contributed the most to the historic preservation of military vehicles worldwide.”

In addition to all of publishing efforts, David is the editor of the MVPA’s magazine, History in Motion, as well as serving as the organization’s Publications Director. He also maintains a retail outlet for his books online and at shows around the U.S.

In Action…Half-Tracks

During WWII, the half-track was conceived to combine the best mobility features of conventional trucks as well as track-laying vehicles.

David Doyle